Amit Shah unveils BHARATPOL

New Delhi, Jan 7: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said Tuesday that India was ushering in a new era in international investigations.

Inaugurating the BHARATPOL portal developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Tuesday, Shah said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is ushering into a new era in international investigation with the launch of BHARATPOL.”

He said that through BHARATPOL, every agency and Police force in India could seamlessly connect with INTERPOL, thereby expediting investigations.

Shah said that the country would celebrate the centenary of independence in the year 2047 and PM Modi had called the present period ‘Amrit Kaal’.

He said that 140 crore people of the country had also acknowledged this period as ‘Amrit Kaal’ and taken a collective pledge to make India first in every sphere in the world by 2047.

The Home Minister said that there were many milestones to achieve in the fulfilment of this resolve, and the first milestone would be to make India the third-largest economy in the world by 2027.

He said that ‘Amrit Kaal’ was the period to fulfil the resolve to make India a fully developed nation by 2047.

Shah said that ‘Amrit Kaal’ was a golden opportunity for India.

He said that under the leadership of PM Modi, India’s journey from being a regional leader to a global leader was being shaped through scientific roadmaps and time-bound execution of programmes.

The Home Minister said that India had continued to make good progress in this path.

He emphasised the need to upgrade systems and mechanisms as the country moves forward and tackles global challenges, and BHARATPOL was a timely step in that direction.

Shah said that the five key modules of BHARATPOL – Connect, INTERPOL Notices, References, Broadcast, and Resources – provide a technological platform to support all law enforcement agencies.

He said that through Connect, all the law enforcement agencies would essentially function as an extension of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB-New Delhi).

The Home Minister said that the system would ensure quick, secure, and structured transmission of requests for INTERPOL notices, enabling a scientific mechanism to swiftly locate criminals from India and across the world, within India.

He highlighted that the INTERPOL References from 195 countries would make it much simpler to seek and provide international assistance for investigations abroad.

Shah said that requests for assistance from 195 countries would now be immediately available through the Broadcast module, while the Resources module would facilitate the exchange and management of documents and capacity-building initiatives.

He highlighted the portal’s key feature — a real-time interface — that would enable seamless and effective communication among agencies to enhance crime control measures.

The Home Minister said that the portal would significantly expedite responses to domestic and international requests for real-time data sharing, including the issuance of Red Corner Notices and other alerts through a global network.

He said that, for years, criminals committing crimes in India and fleeing to other countries had evaded the reach of Indian laws.

“However, with the implementation of modern systems like BHARATPOL, such criminals can now be brought within the ambit of justice,” Shah said. “The Modi government has introduced the provision of Trial in Absentia in the three new criminal laws, enabling the prosecution of fugitive criminals even in their absence through court orders while ensuring a fair judicial process.”

He said that this provision would simplify the process of extraditing convicted criminals from foreign countries to India.

The Home Minister emphasised that, combined with the capabilities of the BHARATPOL portal, this new measure would empower Indian law enforcement agencies to bring fugitives to justice, no matter where they hide.

He urged the CBI to take the lead in implementing BHARATPOL and ensuring its widespread training at the grassroots level.

“This will strengthen the judicial system, enhance transparency, and improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement efforts,” Shah said.

He highlighted the transformative potential of the new system in addressing crimes such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and cross-border terrorism.

The Home Minister said that the BHARATPOL network would greatly assist state police forces by facilitating collaboration with law enforcement agencies in 195 countries through real-time information sharing on such crimes.

He laid stress on the importance of raising awareness among law enforcement agencies about INTERPOL notices and institutionalising this system.

Shah pointed out that one of the key benefits would be access to 19 types of INTERPOL databases, enabling young officers to analyse data, develop crime prevention strategies, and apprehend criminals more effectively.

He also emphasised the system’s capability to address emerging challenges in cybercrime with greater speed and efficiency.

The Home Minister described the entire initiative as revolutionary, with the potential to redefine investigative processes and elevate law enforcement to new heights.

He also presented police medals to 35 award-winning CBI officers, who were honoured with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation.

The Union Home Secretary, the Director of CBI, and the Secretary of DoPT were also present on the occasion.

As the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India (NCB-New Delhi), the CBI plays a pivotal role in facilitating international cooperation on criminal cases in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies across the country.

This coordination extends across the central, state, and Union Territory levels and is managed through INTERPOL Liaison Officers (ILOs).

These ILOs work in conjunction with Unit Officers (UOs), who typically hold positions such as Superintendents of Police, Police Commissioners, or Branch Chiefs within their respective organisations.

Currently, communication between the CBI, ILOs, and UOs is primarily conducted through traditional methods, including letters, emails, and faxes.